Chair, Biochemistry-Molecular Biology Program

Academic Background

B.S., University of Illinois-Champaign, 1992

Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1998

Postdoc, Harvard Medical School, 1998-2004

Research Interests

We use the budding yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
to gain insights into the process of eukaryotic gene transcription. We are particularly interested in the functional and physical interactions that occur between the histone chaperone complex yFACT and chromatin during active transcription.

Duina A.A., Miller M.E. and J.B. Keeney. 2014 . Budding yeast for budding geneticists: a Primer on the
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
model system.
Genetics
197, 33-48. This article was highlighted in "Genetics Spotlight: A showcase of research and scholarship in selected articles from 2014" published by the Genetics Society of America. Article available at:
New Link

A.A. Duina. 2013 . New roles for old characters: an Educational Primer for use with "Vps factors are required for efficient transcription elongation in budding yeast".
Genetics
194, 27-33. Article available at:
New Link

A.A. Duina. 2011 . Histone Chaperones Spt6 and FACT: similarities and differences in modes of action at transcribed genes.
Genet. Res. Int
., Article ID 625210. This article is part of a Special Issue: Gene Control During Transcription Elongation. Article available at:
New Link

Duina, A.A., J.A. Marsh, and R.F. Gaber. 1996 . Identification of two CyP-40-like cyclophilins in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, one of which is required for normal growth.
Yeast
12, 943-952. Article available at:
New Link

Invited Seminars

University of Central Arkansas - Biology Department. April 20, 2018. Investigations on the mechanisms governing Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. December 7, 2016. Investigations on the mechanisms governing Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.

Central Baptist College (AR) - Department of Math and Science. April 25, 2014. Breaking chromatin to understand it: a genetic approach provides new insights into the transcription elongation process.

Rhodes College (TN) - Department of Biology. October 23, 2013. Breaking chromatin to understand it: a genetic approach provides new insights into the transcription elongation process.

Arkansas INBRE Research Conference - Invited Speaker. October 18, 2013. Identification of a Nucleosomal Region Important for Ensuring Proper Interactions between the Transcription Elongation Factor Spt 16 and Transcribed Genes in Budding Yeast.

Emory University School of Medicine (GA) - Department of Biochemistry, February 23, 2012. Analysis of yeast cells expressing specific histone mutants provide new insights into the process of transcription elongation.

Louisiana State University Health Science Center, School of Medicine in Shreveport - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, January 20, 2011. Insights into the process of transcription elongation through the analysis of histone mutants in yeast.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Department of Applied Sciences, November 15, 2010. Insights into the process of transcription elongation through the analysis of histone mutants in yeast.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, September 15, 2010. New insights into the process of transcription elongation in yeast.

University of Iowa - Department of Biochemistry, December 11, 2008. Insights into the mechanism of yFACT association across transcribed genes in vivo.

University of Central Arkansas - Department of Biology, February 18, 2008. A role for histone H3 in ensuring proper distribution of the elongation complex yFACT across transcribed genes.

University of Arkansas at Fayetteville - Department of Biology, November 8, 2007. A role for histone H3 in ensuring proper distribution of the elongation complex yFACT across transcribed genes.

Rhodes College (TN) - Department of Biology, November 13, 2006. A dysfunctional relationship: when a transcription factor just can't let go.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Physiology, September, 2005. Evidence that the localization of the elongation factor Spt16 across transcribed genes is dependent upon histone H3 integrity in yeast.